Dispensing spout with rupturable breathing diaphragm and closure therefor



J. c. PORCELLI 3,160,327 DISPENSING SPOUT WITH RUPTURABLE BREATHING DIAPHRAGM AND CLOSURE THEREFOR Dec. 8, 1964 Filed Jan. 23. 1961 INVENTORK Jblm C. Pomcllz BY 77% W W fifty fere with its use as a nozzle or spout. ber serves as aneifective seal until it is removed by the United States Patent John C. Porcelli, Lincolnwood, iii, assignor to Polymold.

Plastics, Inc, Chicago, iii, a corporation of Illinois Filed Jan. 23, 1961, Ser. No. 84,683 2 Claims. (ill. 222189) This invention relates generally to a dispensing closure and more particularly to improvements therein.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a closure having a spout or nozzlewith an integrally formed diaphragm for sealing same and a captive cap reusable for-closing the spout or nozzle. The diaphragm seals the spout or nozzle to prevent leakage or loss of the container contents or any tampering with the contents of the container prior to use by the ultimate user. At the time of first use the diaphragm is detached and removed from the nozzle so that the nozzle may serve as the dispenser for the container and the captive cap is reusable for closing the nozzle. I

Another object of this invention is to provide a closure having a spout or nozzle with an integrally formed diaphragm for sealing same and a pull tab on said diaphragm whereby the diaphragm may be removed by manually grasping the pull tab and pulling it outwardly, thereby'eliminating the use of tools, mechanical devices or puncturing instruments in removing the diaphragm.

Another object of this invention is to provide a structure of the foregoing character which is integrally molded or formed of a plastic material.

The present invention provides a sealing member formed as an integral part of the nozzle or spout, which sealing member may be readily removed by pulling on a pull tab which detaches the sealing member from the nozzle, so that when detached the inner Wall of the nozzle or spout at the juncture of the sealingmember and spout is left clean, smooth and unobstructed so as not to inter- The sealing memultimate user. Any removal prior thereto will put the user on notice that the seal and container have been tam-' pered with. Another object of this invention is to providea nozzle,

captive cap and diaphragm seal with a pull tab, all integrally molded of a plastic material; for example, polyethylene or the like, which may be economically produced and inexpensively applied to containers. The containers are filled prior to application of the nozzle forming this invention.

Another object of this invention is to provide a structure of the foregoing character wherein the fit between the nozzle and captive cap may be so constructed that the cap will blow off the nozzle at any prescribed predetermined internal pressure in the container, thus providing a safety means against an explosion of the container.

Another object of this invention is to provide a seal which can be varied for pressure or blow-out and which is tamper proof and allows gas or expansion escape.

Other objects will become apparent as this description progresses.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a view showing the closure forming this invention applied to one form of container, with the cap in open position.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the inner seal or diaphragm and tab when removed from the closure.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the closure with the cap in open position; also with the cap shown I in closed position indotted lines. v

7 FIGURE 4 is a top plan view of FIGURE 3, and

FIGURE 5 shows a modified inner seal or diaphragm. The closure unit generally comprises a nozzle or spout generally indicated at 10, a flexible hinge 12 extending therefrom, and a cap or closure generally indicated at '14 connected thereto. Within the nozzle and extending across thereof is a sealing member or diaphragm generally indicated at 16 with a pull tab 18. This structure is integrally molded of a plastic material, such as polyethylene or similar material so that there is combined strength and substantial stillness with resiliency. The cap 14 may be readily snapped on or off the nozzle 10 repeatedly and I the parts resume their original molded shape after temporary distortion.

The nozzle or spout generally indicated at 10 comprises a tubular body 20 which tapers downwardly and then extends outwardly to form an annular enlargement 22. The annular enlargement is provided with an annular groove or recess 24 open at the bottom to receive the annular upturned or flanged portion 26 of the wall 28 of the container 30 surrounding the opening 31 of the container. The inner side walls of the recess 24 are tapered so that they permanently interlock with the flange 26 of the container to permanently secure the nozzle 10 to the container. The tubular body 20 has a short annular portion 32 at the lower end which'extends into the interior of the container. The internal diameter of the spout is greater at the lower end than at the upper end.

The upper or mouth portion of the nozzle has an annular peripheral head or lip 34, with the lower horizontal portion 36 substantially at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the nozzle. Upwardly of the bead 34 the nozzle tapers inwardly and then slightly outwardly to terminate in an annular edge 38. The inside wall adjacent the upper edge 38 is beveled as at 40.

The sealing member or diaphragm generally indicated at 16 is molded as an integral part of the nozzle 10 and extends transversely of the interior of the nozzlebelow the horizontal plane of the peripheral head 34. The diaphragm is of uniform thickness except for the annular peripheral edge 17 where it connects with the tubular the diaphragm so that a sturdier connection is provided a between the diaphragm and the nozzle. I

When the diaphragm is detached, as will be described, the detachment is clean and occurs at the juncture of the annular shoulder 42 and the thinner peripheral edge 17, therefore, the inner wall of the nozzle at said juncture is left clean, smooth and unobstructed and without any por tion of the diaphragm or shoulder clinging or adhering thereto so as not to interfere with the free discharged the container contents through the nozzle.

The tab, generally indicated at 18, which is integrally formed with the diaphragm comprises a flexible strip which has a serrated underface surface 44. It may be serrated on both surfaces if desired. It connects to the diaphragm adjacent the peripheral edge 17 of the diaphragm and is in alinement with the flexible hinge 12. The cap or closure 14 is connected to the nozzle 10 by the flexible connecting strip or hinge 12 and the hinge extends from the enlargement 22 of the nozzle outwardly to the bottom of the outer cylindrical side wall or skirt of the cap. 7

\ Patented Dec. 8, 1964 3 The cap 14 has a substantially flat top 46 and a depending outer cylindrical side wall or skirt 48 provided with a thickened annular wall portion 50 at the bottom thereof to which the hinge connects. A forward extension 52 is provided at the front thereof and same-projects from the cap for manual engagement for the purpose of lifting the cap from the nozzle. Extending r-adiallyinward from the side wall of the cap are a plurality of spaced beads or lips 54 which engage the underside of the peripheral bead or lip 34 of the. nozzle to secure the With the use of spaced beads or lips 54 on the inside of the outer annular wall of the cap 14, the cap when in closed position will below 011 the nozzle after the sealing diaphragm has been removed when an internal pressure has been built up in the package at nine to eleven pounds per square inch. This is a safety factor. However, by providing a continuous lip extending around the inner circumference of the outer wall in lieu of the plurality of spaced ribs, the cap will hold an internal pressure up to approximately 35 pounds per square inch.

It will be understood that various changes and modifications may be made from theforegoing without departing dotted lines in FIGURE 3. The outer surface of the cylindrical inner wall is beveled as at 60 complementary to the beveled edge 40 of the nozzle so that when the cap is in closed position a seal-tight fit is effected between the cap and the nozzle.

When the cap 14 is in closed position, as shown in dotted lines in FIGURE 3, the pull tab 18 of the di phragrn will be pushed downwardly, as shown in FIG- URE 3, and confined below the cap resting against the diaphragm is effected solely by manually pulling outwardly on the pull tab 18, thereby eliminating the use of tools, mechanical devices or puncturing instruments Furthermore, the detachment is clean so that the'nozzle is left smooth and unobstructed along the detaching line.

With the use of this invention, shipment and storing of the package in a sealed condition is possible. The package is sealed against unauthorized tampering and is seal proof against leakage and the like by virtue of the diaphragm. However, after it has been purchased and taken to the place of ultimate use, the user removes the diaphragm 16 through the pull tab 18 and thereafter the cap 14 is used for repeated closing of the container during the use of the container.

While FIGURE 1 illustrates this invention applied to one form of container, it will be understood that this in- .vention may be readily apllied to other shapes and types of containers, and said containers may be made of any material, such as fiber, glass, metal, plastic, or the like.

While the invention is here illustrated with a captive cap, it should be understood that the nozzle, diaphragm and pull tab may be integrally formed and used with a detachable and separate cap which is not integrally formed as herein illustrated.

FIGURE 5 shows a modification in which the diaphragm 16A is provided with a plurality of fine openings 62 along its peripheral weakened edge 17A adjacent rearwardly of the pull tab 18A In all other respects the structure is as previously described. This permits the package to breathe even before the diaphragm 01'' seal is removed and is'desirable with certain types of powders or,

granular packed products which would not leak through the fine openings 62, and if leaked through, the openings would be confined by the closure or cap 14,

from the spirit and scope of What is claimed is: I

1. In a spout-type container closure, a generally tubular pouring spout of resiliently flexible material formed with a bore terminating in a mouth opening through the outer end of the spout, a closure diaphragm spaced inwardly of the spout from said mouth opening and extendthe appended claims.

ing in. a radial plane across said bore, said diaphragm being integral with and constituting a homogenous portion of, the material forming the spout, said diaphragm being peripherally connected with the inner wall of said bore along a weakened tear line spaced inwardly of the spout from its mouth, said weakened tear line provided with a plurality of fine openings to permit the container to breathe while said closure diaphragm remains peripherally connected, a resiliently flexible pull tab having a root portion connected with said diaphragm closely adjacent said wall and said weakened tear line, said tab, except for its root portion, being disconnected from said wall and said diaphragm, and having a free end normally projecting outwardly through and beyond the mouth of the spout,and being normally disposed at an angle to said diaphragm and being disposed for resilient flexing toward said radial plane of said diaphragm into the mouth of the spout, the resiliency of the tab, upon being released, causing it to resume its normal position with its free end outward of and beyond the mouth of the spout.

I 2. The combination of elements defined in claim 1 further comprising a closure cap removably disposed on said spout to cover said mouth and having a portion abutting against the tab to flex said tab toward the diaphragm into said mouth incident to the application of said cap to said spout.

References erred in the file ofthis patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,128,948 Chellis I Feb. 16, 1915 2,094,600 Hothe'rsall Oct. 5, 1937 2,333,587 Salfisberg Nov. 2, 1943 2,565,699 Rieke Aug. 28, 1951 2,625,306 Murphy Jan. 13, 1953 2,661,128 Rieke Dec. 1, 1953 2,661,861 Oldenburg Dec. 8, 1 953 2,723,060 Rieke Nov. 8, 1955 2,774,523 Rieke Dec. 18, 1956 2,832,515 Barradas Apr. 29, 1958 2,898,018 Borah Aug. 4, 1959 2,911,664 Zecchini Nov. .10, 1959 2,932,436 Dobbins Apr. 12, 1960 2,945,430 Slick' July 19, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS 286,708 Switzerland Mar. 2, 1953 

1. IN A SPOUT-TYPE CONTAINER CLOSURE, A GENERALLY TUBULAR POURING SPOUT OF RESILIENTLY FLEXIBLE MATERIAL FORMED WITH A BORE TERMINATING IN A MOUTH OPENING THROUGH THE OUTER END OF THE SPOUT, A CLOSURE DIAPHRAGM SPACED INWARDLY OF THE SPOUT FROM SAID MOUTH OPENING AND EXTENDING IN A RADIAL PLANE ACROSS SAID BORE, SAID DIAPHRAGM BEING INTEGRAL WITH AND CONSTITUTING A HOMOGENOUS PORTION OF, THE MATERIAL FORMING THE SPOUT, SAID DIAPHRAGM BEING PERIPHERALLY CONNECTED WITH THE INNER WALL OF SAID BORE ALONG A WEAKENED TEAR LINE SPACED INWARDLY OF THE SPOUT FROM ITS MOUTH, SAID WEAKENED TEAR LINE PROVIDED WITH A PLURALITY OF FINE OPENINGS TO PERMIT THE CONTAINER TO BREATHE WHILE SAID CLOSURE DIAPHRAGM REMAINS PERIPHERALLY CONNECTED, A RESILIENTLY FLEXIBLY PULL TAB HAVING A ROOT PORTION CONNECTED WITH SAID DIAPHRAGM CLOSELY ADJACENT SAID WALL AND SAID WEAKENED TEAR LINE, SAID TAB, EXCEPT FOR ITS ROOT PORTION, BEING DISCONNECTED FROM SAID WALL AND SAID DIAPHRAGM, AND HAVING A FREE END NORMALLY PROJECTING OUTWARDLY THROUGH AND BEYOND THE MOUTH OF THE SPOUT, AND BEING NORMALLY DISPOSED AT ANGLE TO SAID DIAPHRAGM AND BEING DISPOSED FOR RESILIENT FLEXING TOWARD SAID RADIAL PLANE OF SAID DIAPHRAGM INTO THE MOUTH OF THE SPOUT, THE RESILIENCY OF THE TAB, UPON BEING RELEASED, CAUSING IT TO RESUME ITS NORMAL POSITION WITH ITS FREE END OUTWARD OF AND BEYOND THE MOUTH OF THE SPOUT. 